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THINGS BEGAN TO change in me. The talent show was also approaching fast. I wasn't afraid of disappointing my parents. I was now so confident in myself that I had something special to present that day. Stephanie and I decided to present together which would be so nice because like my mum said before, we were making such a great team. Stephanie and I have done many practices for the show. We decided to present one of Michael Jackson's song titled, 'We are the world'.

Though the instrument and the instrumentalist would be arranged but I decided I would sing with a guitar because I learnt how to operate it in the choir club and I was still learning and I was sure before the talent show day, I must've mastered how to operate it very well because I could play it really good as of that moment. My instincts told me the show would be so wonderful and I couldn't wait for the day to come.

Now I've weighed my love for Stephanie and you won't believe it, it was now 68%. Could it be that…No way, that's impossible, I mean I'm only 17 years old, I'm still a small boy and only men fall in love. It's only in movies that I've seen such happen and it's even foreign movies. There is definitely no way that I Joshua Chibuike Peters have fallen in love with Steph. But maybe I like her, you know because now, even with her school uniform that looks like agbada ndi Yoruba (one thousand five), I still like to hang out with her and shuns anyone that tries questioning me, you know them already, my friends.

I entirely stopped going to the senior cafe because I had more important things to do. This made me quit some of my bad behaviors. But this did not affect the relationship between my friends and I. I was then happy always and this made me realize why Stephanie was always seen happy. I was happy within myself and I found peace in myself. It was really good to be with a clear conscience.

I grew so fond of Stephanie that I couldn't stay for a whole hour without thinking of her. I always wished to be around her. Each time I got home, I would be eagerly waiting for the next day to reach so I could see her again. I didn't know if Stephanie was feeling the same way about me but I knew one thing, I know we were now best of friends and I was so happy about that.

Aunty Somto was a real good music teacher. She made me become so good with music in just a matter of weeks. She thought me how to read musical lyrics and even how to write my own song. She thought me how to play some instruments especially the guitar. She devoted most of her time teaching me that I became good with music like I've been learning it for a year.

Stephanie and I was making a good team. We sang together in the choir club, the assembly and even in church. My parents was so happy with me. I was already making them proud.

Everyday and every time I spent with Stephanie was my most treasured moment though I hardly spent enough time with her. I only got to see her during the leisure periods in school and in church and I always wished I get to spend more time with her. Stephanie was becoming an important part of my life and I was confused on how it really happened.

Something happened one day, something really amazing, though there was a little sad moment but it turned out to be the best day ever. I asked Stephanie out on a picnic with me in a beautiful garden in our area and she surprisingly agreed. You can't imagine this; she wore a simple nice cloths, not too fancy and not too local. But in either way, she was gorgeous in it. The garden wasn't far from both of our houses so we had to trek to it. We carried a basket containing all the things we would need for the picnic. I held the basket in my right hand while Stephanie walked beside me in the left. We discussed as we walked to the garden. Suddenly, I was pushed to hold her hand gently but you won't believe it, she didn't remonstrate. She even tightened her grip.

That day was so good. We were just like two couples on their honeymoon. We played together round the tree. We sat close to a river near the garden and threw stones and pebbles inside the river as it flowed freely. We sat on the mat later and ate some fruits we brought and some fish pie Stephanie made herself and it was so delicious. We then went back to the river this time sitting so close to it with our legs inside it feeling the river flowing so peacefully.

Stephanie leaned on my body then suddenly like a flash, she stood up and walked a bit towards where we sprayed our mat. I stood up, walked to her and held her hand.

"What's the matter?" I asked her curiously. She turned and looked at me and soft tears ran down her cheeks.

"Stephanie are you okay?" I asked her again this time scared.

"Nothing, just that I miss Stephen my twin brother." She finally said amid tears as she hugged me and I held her tightly "It's okay, don't cry." I managed to say confused because I didn't know the twin brother she was referring to and I didn't want to ask her any further questions so that she won't feel more hurt.

"Whenever am around you, I just remember him." she continued and I then decided to ask her what happened to him but before I could speak she started telling me the story of Stephen her brother.

"He was not only my brother," she began. "He was my best friend and I loved him so much and he loved me more; he never joked with me. We were so happy together until earlier last two years when he died of a heart problem."

"I'm so sorry Steph." I said sadly.

"It's okay," she replied. "It's not your fault."

I held her shoulder and looked straight into her eyes, then a force I couldn't describe pushed me to do what I've never done in my whole life, I kissed her. At first, she didn't resist maybe out of shock then suddenly she pulled back and turn her back on me.

"I have to go," she said. "It's getting late."

"Okay." I managed to say.

In less than three minutes, I gathered everything we came with as she stood watching me maybe still shocked at my action. Later we walked home. It was a silent walk till I decided to break the silence.

"Steph please pardon my action lately, I'm sorry."

She stopped and looked at me smiling. "It okay," she said. "You don't have to apologise. It's just that someone haven't kissed me before so I was nervous."

"Oh! Ok." I said almost whispering in disbelief.

I was contemplating on two things at once. She haven't been kissed by someone before, same with me and she was not even upset with me for kissing her. I was still lost in thought when she woke me up.

"Okay bye." she said as she entered their gate which was open. From the garden, Stephanie's house was the first you would have to pass before ours.

"Bye." I replied silently to the closed gate wishing it would open again and she would come out. After a moment, I turned to leave and surprisingly, the gate opened and Stephanie came out; she quickly rushed at me and kissed me. It was like a fairy dream but it's real. I felt like I was in the fairy land but I was in Nigeria. I then realized that her kiss was more charming than the one I kissed her back in the garden. She kissed me for some seconds then she looked at me and smiled.

"Bye." She said and entered inside again.

This time, I knew she wasn't coming out again, I felt so happy. I walked home thinking of Stephanie. I really enjoyed the kiss and I wished it lasted for a whole day. I was so happy throughout that day. I kept thinking of Stephanie. I wished she was always with me.

My mom was a good observer. She observed the sudden change in me; how I'm now always happy. She had to ask the matter with me.

"Son," she started. "There is something about you this days that you are not telling me, can you give me the gist?"

I was thinking of debunking the question but she then asked the most shocking one.

"Are you in love?"